Mohanlal’s Drishyam 3 is continuing its sensational pre-release run at the worldwide box office. The upcoming Malayalam crime thriller has officially crossed the ₹10 crore milestone in advance bookings, becoming only the fifth Malayalam film ever to achieve the feat before release.
Directed by Jeethu Joseph, the film marks the return of Georgekutty — one of Indian cinema’s most iconic thriller characters. The extraordinary response to advance bookings reflects the massive anticipation surrounding the third installment of the Drishyam franchise.
According to recent trade reports, Drishyam 3 has already sold tickets worth nearly ₹11 crore worldwide for its opening weekend, with several days still remaining before release.
‘Drishyam 3’ Joins an Elite Malayalam Cinema Club
With its latest pre-sales achievement, Drishyam 3 has entered an exclusive list of Malayalam films that crossed ₹10 crore gross in advance bookings.
Malayalam Films Crossing ₹10 Crore in Pre-Sales
| Film | Lead Star |
|---|---|
| Odiyan | Mohanlal |
| Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea | Mohanlal |
| L2: Empuraan | Mohanlal |
| Patriot | Mohanlal |
| Drishyam 3 | Mohanlal |
Interestingly, all five films feature Mohanlal in the lead role, highlighting the superstar’s unmatched box office pull in Malayalam cinema.
The achievement further strengthens Mohanlal’s dominance in Mollywood’s modern box office era.
Massive Demand Across India and Overseas
Advance booking momentum for Drishyam 3 has been exceptionally strong both domestically and internationally.
Initially, fan shows in Kerala opened to tremendous demand before regular screenings were added across multiple regions. Reports suggest ticket sales have continued accelerating daily as more shows become available.
Pre-Sales Highlights
| Detail | Performance |
|---|---|
| Worldwide Pre-Sales | Nearly ₹11 Crore |
| Release Date | May 21, 2026 |
| Opening Weekend Sales | Exceptional |
| Overseas Response | Strong |
Trade analysts believe the film could register one of the biggest openings in Malayalam cinema history if momentum continues at the current pace.
Mohanlal and Jeethu Joseph’s Winning Combination
The excitement surrounding Drishyam 3 is also driven by the successful collaboration between Mohanlal and director Jeethu Joseph.
Their previous theatrical collaborations — Drishyam (2013) and Neru (2023) — both became major commercial successes.
Mohanlal & Jeethu Joseph’s Box Office Track Record
| Film | Result |
|---|---|
| Drishyam | Blockbuster |
| Neru | Super Hit |
| Drishyam 3 | Upcoming |
The Drishyam franchise itself has become one of India’s most successful thriller series, spawning remakes in multiple languages including Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.
Why the Hype Is So Huge
Several factors are contributing to the extraordinary anticipation surrounding the film.
Reasons Behind the Massive Buzz
| Factor | Impact |
|---|---|
| Georgekutty’s Return | Iconic character comeback |
| Franchise Popularity | Massive fanbase |
| Mohanlal Stardom | Strong theatrical pull |
| Thriller Genre | Wide audience appeal |
| Global Release | Higher ticket sales |
The release date also coincides with Mohanlal’s birthday celebrations, which has further boosted fan excitement and advance booking momentum.
Fans across Kerala and overseas markets are reportedly treating the release like a major cinematic event.
Overseas Market Shows Strong Growth
The overseas response for Drishyam 3 has been particularly impressive.
Malayalam cinema has experienced significant international growth over the past few years, especially in GCC countries, North America and Europe. Mohanlal remains one of the biggest overseas stars in the industry, and the Drishyam franchise already has a strong global audience.
Key Overseas Markets
| Region | Response |
|---|---|
| GCC Countries | Excellent |
| USA | Strong |
| Europe | Growing |
| Australia | Positive |
Trade experts believe overseas collections could play a major role in helping the film achieve record-breaking opening numbers worldwide.
Can ‘Drishyam 3’ Create Box Office History?
Given the current booking pace, industry trackers believe Drishyam 3 has the potential to challenge several existing Malayalam cinema records.
Some reports suggest the film could target a worldwide opening of over ₹50 crore gross — an extraordinary number for a Malayalam-language thriller.
Current Expectations
| Box Office Area | Prediction |
|---|---|
| Kerala Opening | Record-level |
| Worldwide Opening | ₹50 Crore+ Potential |
| Advance Booking Trend | Excellent |
| Word-of-Mouth Expectations | Strong |
If audience reception matches the hype, the film could become one of the biggest Malayalam blockbusters ever released.
About the Film
Drishyam 3 is written and directed by Jeethu Joseph and produced by Antony Perumbavoor under the banner of Aashirvad Cinemas.
Main Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Mohanlal | Georgekutty |
| Meena | Rani |
| Ansiba Hassan | Anju |
| Esther Anil | Anu |
The film continues the story following the events of Drishyam 2, with Georgekutty once again facing dangerous challenges connected to his family’s dark secret.
Another Massive Milestone for ‘Drishyam 3’
Drishyam 3 has not even reached theaters yet, but the film is already rewriting Malayalam box office history. By crossing ₹10 crore in worldwide pre-sales, the Mohanlal-led thriller has joined one of Mollywood’s most exclusive clubs and once again demonstrated the unmatched popularity of both the franchise and its legendary lead star.
The combination of Mohanlal’s star power, Jeethu Joseph’s storytelling and the enormous goodwill built by the previous Drishyam films has transformed the release into a major cinematic event.
For Malayalam cinema, the message is clear: Georgekutty’s return isn’t just highly anticipated — it’s already historic.
